Queen Demon (preorder)

(preorder—to be published in 2026)

Dust jacket and interior illustrations by Rovina Cai.

Notes: 

• Only those who own bought the SubPress edition of System Collapse and received an email invitation regarding Queen Demon may preorder the latter title at this time.
• We do no plan to produce a lettered edition of Queen Demon.

About the Book:

Much has changed during the year Kaiisteron, Fourth Prince of the underearth, and wind Witch Ziede Daiyahah spent imprisoned in an underwater tomb. Following their escape and the subsequent rescue of Immortal Blessed Tahren Stargard from the Witch cells of the Kagala, the ragtag crew journeys to the Assembly in the city of Benais-arik, where they must confront the fraught politics over the growing influence of the Rising World.

Matters are further complicated when the research of Tahren’s brother Dahin takes them to the University of Ancartre, where a discovery has been made regarding the location of the original Well—the source of power that created the Hierarchs.

The lines between ally and enemy blur as Kai races to prevent the return of the Hierarchs in the present. Meanwhile, flashbacks show Prince-heir Bashasa’s continued efforts to overthrow the Hierarchs’ rule, starting with freeing the city of Benais-arik from imperial control.

When the Arike troop is attacked on the road by dustwitches—a faction loyal only to themselves—Bashasa seeks to turn the initial confrontation into an advantage. Kai is enlisted to spearhead negotiations with the dustwitches, and though the demon prince doubts his ability to form an alliance, the war effort depends on whether Kai can live up to the title of Witch King.

Award-winning fantasy and science-fiction author Martha Wells intricately weaves narratives of the past and present in the greatly-anticipated sequel to Witch King. Queen Demon expands on the unique cultural settings and the geopolitics of the Rising World, while treating readers to a deeper look at the bonds forged between allies old and new.

Limited Edition Features

• Oversized 7 x 10 trim size;
• Printed offset in two colors (black and Pantone®) on 60# archival quality paper;
• Full-color dust jacket art, endpapers, four full-page interiors, and chapter head illustrations by Rovina Cai;
• Smyth-sewn binding;
• 344 pages;

Limited: 500 signed numberd hardcover copies

From Booklist:

“This epic fantasy adventure of found family, lost love, and promises kept, even after death, is a quest for long-buried truths that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish with its high-stakes adventures.”

From Library Journal:

“This epic fantasy adventure of found family, lost love, and promises kept, even after death, is a quest for long-buried truths that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish with its high-stakes adventures.”

From Locus:

“This is a fantastic novel, set in a fascinating world with truly compelling characters. It is shot through with grief, with the reverberations of destruction and the aftermaths of trauma...”